Automatic funnel positioning system for spinner spreader machine

Abstract

The spinner spreader machine includes a funnel that is automatically or selectively repositionable and associated with the spinner. The funnel is used to vary the product spreading pattern or maintain a consistent product spreading pattern in combination with a varying product delivery rate as the machine traverses a geographic land area. The machine is used to disperse stored products over a geographic land area and advantageously reduces or eliminates product waste as well as surface and ground contamination that results from inefficient spreading of products.

We claim: 
     
       1. A spinner spreader machine comprising: a vehicle;   at least one bin adapted to hold a product and associated with the vehicle;   at least one spreader mechanism associated with the vehicle;   at least one funnel apparatus associated with the vehicle; and   at least one automated funnel repositioning apparatus associated with the at least one funnel apparatus, the at least one automated funnel repositioning apparatus including at least one of a linear actuator and variable speed drive mechanism adapted to selectively position the at least one funnel apparatus while the vehicle is traversing a geographic area and adapted to provide control of a desired product spreading pattern within the geographical area.   
     
     
       2. The spinner spreader machine of claim 1 further comprising a control system operatively coupled to the at least one automated funnel repositioning apparatus, the control system comprising: data processor;   a data input device in communication with the data processor;   an algorithmic software directing the data processor; and   a data storage unit, wherein product spreading pattern data associated with at least one funnel apparatus is stored and supplied to the data processor, the data processor adapted to automatically determine discrete funnel positioning data for repositioning the at least one funnel apparatus and adapted to vary a product spreading pattern as the vehicle traverses a geographic land area.   
     
     
       3. A spinner spreader machine comprising: a vehicle;   storing means associated with the vehicle for storing at least one product;   spinning means associated with the vehicle for spreading the at least one product onto a geographic land area;   funneling means associated with the vehicle for directing the at least one stored product onto the spinning means; and   positioning means associated with the at least one funneling means, the positioning means including at least one of a linear actuator and variable speed drive mechanism adapted to selectively reposition the funneling means while the vehicle is traversing the geographic land area and cause a product to be transported from the storing means onto the spinning means and provide a desired spreading pattern within the geographic land area.   
     
     
       4. The spinner spreader machine of claim 3 further comprising controlling means for controlling the positioning means, the controlling means comprising: data processing means for processing data;   data entering means for communicating with the data processing means;   an algorithmic software directing the data processing means; and   data storing means for storing product spreading pattern data associated with the funneling means and for providing the spreading pattern data to the data processing means to determine discrete funnel positioning data for repositioning the funneling means to vary a product spreading pattern as the vehicle traverses the geographic land area.   
     
     
       5. A spinner spreader machine comprising: a vehicle;   at least one product storage bin attached to the vehicle;   at least one spinner apparatus attached to the vehicle;   at least one funnel attached to the vehicle; and   an automated funnel positioning system configured for selectively repositioning the at least one funnel as the vehicle traverses a predetermined land area, the automated funnel positioning system including at least one of a linear actuator and variable speed drive mechanism adapted to provide a plurality of product spreading patterns over the predetermined land area.   
     
     
       6. The spinner spreader machine of claim 5 wherein the funnel positioning system comprises: a data processor;   a data input device in communication with the data processor;   an algorithmic software directing the data processor; and   a data storage unit adapted for use with crop input data, geographic land area reference point data, and algorithmically defined relationships therebetween, the data storage unit adapted to store the data and the relationships and supply the same to the data processor which is adapted to automatically determine product spreading pattern data for use with actuation of the funnel positioning system, the at least one funnel adapted to be repositionable as the vehicle traverses the geographic land area in order to vary a product spreading pattern.   
     
     
       7. A spinner spreader machine comprising: a vehicle;   at least one bin adapted to hold a product and associated with the vehicle;   at least one spreader mechanism associated with the vehicle;   at least one funnel apparatus associated with the vehicle;   at least one automated funnel repositioning apparatus associated with the at least one funnel apparatus, the at least one automated funnel repositioning apparatus adapted to selectively position the at least one funnel apparatus while the vehicle is traversing a geographic area and adapted to provide control of a desired product spreading pattern within the geographical area; and   a control system operatively coupled to the at least one automated funnel repositioning apparatus, the control system comprising: a data processor; a data input device in communication with the data processor; an algorithmic software directing the data processor; and a data storage unit;   wherein product spreading pattern data associated with at least one funnel apparatus is stored and supplied to the data processor; wherein the algorithmic software is further configured to direct the data processor to determine discrete funnel positioning data for repositioning the at least one funnel apparatus to attain a substantially consistent product spreading pattern in combination with a varying product application rate; and wherein the data processor is adapted to automatically determine discrete funnel positioning data for repositioning the at least one funnel apparatus and to vary a product spreading pattern as the vehicle traverses a geographic land area.   
     
     
       8. The spinner spreader machine of claim 7 wherein the at least one funnel repositioning apparatus comprises a linear actuator adapted to selectively move the at least one funnel apparatus in one or more directions as the vehicle traverses the geographic land area. 
     
     
       9. The spinner spreader machine of claim 8 wherein the at least one funnel repositioning apparatus further comprises a variable speed drive mechanism for selectively varying a speed and direction of motion for the linear actuator. 
     
     
       10. The spinner spreader machine of claim 9 wherein the vehicle is self-propelled. 
     
     
       11. The spinner spreader machine of claim 9 herein the vehicle is towed. 
     
     
       12. A spinner spreader machine comprising: a vehicle;   storing means associated with the vehicle for storing at least one product;   spinning means associated with the vehicle for spreading the at least one product onto a geographic land area;   funneling means associated with the vehicle for directing the at least one stored product onto the spinning means;   positioning means associated with the at least one funneling means, the positioning means adapted to selectively reposition the funneling means while the vehicle is traversing the geographic land area and cause a product to be transported from the storing means onto the spinning means and provide a desired spreading pattern within the geographic land area; and   controlling means for controlling the positioning means, the controlling means comprising: data processing means for processing data; data entering means for communicating with the data processing means; algorithmic software directing the data processing means; and data storing means for storing product spreading pattern data associated with the funneling means and for providing the spreading pattern data to the data processing means to determine discrete funnel positioning data for repositioning the funneling means to vary a product spreading pattern as the vehicle traverses the geographic land area;   wherein the algorithmic software is further configured to direct the data processing means to automatically determine discrete repositioning data for controlling the funneling means at a substantially consistent product spreading pattern in combination with a varying product application rate.   
     
     
       13. The spinner spreader machine of claim 12 wherein the positioning means comprises actuating means for providing linear repositioning of the funneling means in a direction substantially parallel to the geographic land area. 
     
     
       14. The spinner spreader machine of claim 13 wherein the positioning means further comprises means for selectively varying a speed and direction of motion of the actuating means. 
     
     
       15. The spinner spreader machine of claim 14 wherein the vehicle is self-propelled. 
     
     
       16. The spinner spreader machine of claim 14 wherein the vehicle is towed. 
     
     
       17. A spinner spreader machine comprising: a vehicle;   at least one product storage bin attached to the vehicle;   at least one spinner apparatus attached to the vehicle;   at least one funnel attached to the vehicle; and   an automated funnel positioning system configured for selectively repositioning the at least one funnel as the vehicle traverses a predetermined land area, the automated funnel positioning system adapted to provide a plurality of product spreading patterns over the predetermined land area, the funnel positioning system comprising: a data processor; a data input device in communication with the data processor; an algorithmic software directing the data processor; and a data storage unit adapted for use with crop input data, geographic land area reference point data, and algorithmically defined relationships therebetween, the data storage unit adapted to store the data and the relationships and supply the same to the data processor which is adapted to automatically determine product spreading pattern data for use with actuation of the funnel positioning system, the at least one funnel adapted to be repositionable as the vehicle traverses the geographic land area in order to vary a product spreading pattern;   wherein the algorithmic software is further configured to direct the data processor to automatically determine repositioning data for controlling the at least one funnel at a substantially consistent product spreading pattern in combination with a varying product application rate as the vehicle traverses the geographic land area.   
     
     
       18. The spinner spreader machine of claim 17 wherein the funnel positioning system further comprises a linear actuator configured to selectively move the at least one funnel in a linear direction substantially parallel to the geographic land area as the vehicle traverses the geographic land area. 
     
     
       19. The spinner spreader machine of claim 18 wherein the funnel positioning system further comprises a variable speed drive motor for selectively varying a speed and direction of motion for the linear actuator. 
     
     
       20. The spinner spreader machine of claim 19 wherein the vehicle is self-propelled. 
     
     
       21. The spinner spreader machine of claim 19 wherein the vehicle is towed.